Panihati boat festival
Panihati Chida-dahi festival Special Alankara
Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga at the Theppotsava
Chida-dahi Prasadam
Devotees witnessing the celebrations

Panihati Chida-dahi Mahotsava is celebrated to commemorate a significant event in the history of Gaudiya Vaishnava Sampradaya when Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami received Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s blessings to attain shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami and the Panihati Mahotsava

Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami, born around 1494 AD in Saptagram, Hooghly, West Bengal, was the only son of wealthy landlord Govardhana Majumdar. He became one of the six principal disciples of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He desired to assist in the Lord’s mission of spreading Harinama Sankirtana. However, family constraints initially hindered his desire.

Srila Raghunatha Dasa displayed a strong sense of detachment from worldly life from a young age. He had an intense longing to join Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission of spreading the holy names and glories of Lord Krishna. Nonetheless, he encountered obstacles when trying to depart from home and dedicate his life to serving Lord Chaitanya.

Upon hearing about Sri Nityananda Prabhu’s visit to Panihati, Raghunatha Dasa went to meet him. Sri Nityananda Prabhu, an incarnation of Lord Balarama, was seated under a banyan tree by the Ganges, surrounded by devotees. Raghunatha Dasa hesitated to approach but was eventually noticed and summoned by Nityananda Prabhu, who playfully accused him of hiding like a thief. Nityananda Prabhu placed his lotus feet on Raghunatha’s head and ordered him to celebrate a festival by serving yoghurt and chipped rice to the devotees, marking the first Chida-dahi Mahotsava.

With the blessings of Nityananda Prabhu, Raghunatha Dasa overcame all the impediments in his spiritual path and soon joined Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and became one of His close associates.

This joyful chida-dahi festival is annually celebrated on the thirteenth day of the bright moon in the month of Jyeshtha (May-June) in Panihati and the Hare Krishna Movement centres worldwide.

Panihati Chida-dahi Celebrations

Celebrations at ISKCON Hare Krishna Hill

The celebrations will be held at ISKCON Hare Krishna Hill on 9 June 2025, from 7 AM onwards, beginning with a grand abhisheka for Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga, followed by a boat festival and the distribution of Chida-dahi Maha Prasadam.

The temple pond will be beautifully decorated, with colourful flowers floating on its calm ripples. The utsava Deities of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga will be carried from the main temple hall to the pond in a pallakki adorned with flowers. An abhisheka will be performed using milk, curd, ghee, honey, jaggery water, and exotic fruit juices. This will be followed by a grand arati, after which the Deities will be taken on a boat ride (Theppotsava) in the temple pond.

Devotees will prepare a variety of dishes by mixing chipped rice with condensed milk, yoghurt, sugar, bananas, mangoes, and assorted savouries—just as Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami once did. These preparations will be first offered to Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga, and then distributed to all assembled devotees as maha prasadam.

Celebrations at ISKCON Vaikuntha Hill

At ISKCON Vaikuntha Hill, the celebrations will be held for the first time on 9 June 2025, from 6 PM onwards. The festivities will include a grand pallakki utsava of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga, accompanied by melodious sankirtana, and the distribution of delicious Chida-dahi prasadam at the kalyani (temple pond).

Experience the spiritual bliss and community spirit of ISKCON Bangalore’s Panihati Chida-dahi Mahotsava. Join us in celebrating this divine festival and receive the blessings of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga.